Hoggard football back to work with early morning sessions (Photos)

Training camp is underway across the state of North Carolina as high school football teams continue their first official week of practice. Behind Scott Braswell Stadium on Shipyard Boulevard in Wilmington, the Hoggard Vikings are hard at work under second-year Head Coach Craig Underwood.

Practices at Hoggard get started at 7:30 a.m. each day this week. The Vikings are looking to build off an 8-5 season last year and 5-1 mark in conference. Underwood talked about some of the adjustments he’s made after his rookie season as head coach, but the Hoggard alum reiterated his belief in the foundation laid down, while serving as a longtime assistant and player under his predecessor.

The Vikings will have some pieces back in the lineup on the offensive side of the ball, including running backs Tony Allen and Rashod Wallace, who combined for nearly 2,000 yards rushing as juniors. Quarterbacks Bryant Sasser and Josh Jones have a year of experience under their belt at the varsity level and tight end Patrick Morrison could also see a bump in targets after catching three touchdown passes in 2015.

Defensively, Hoggard will need to find replacements at several key positions, with their five leading tacklers lost to graduation.

Catch Cats’ interview with Underwood, receiver Collin Hairr, and watch highlights from practice below. Hairr returns to the wide out position as the teams leader in receptions (28) and receiving yards (422).